Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Coming home to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2018

It
was a thrill for me to represent Oratia at the four-day Bologna Children’s Book
Fair last week.

Although
it was our first time there, it was a little like a homecoming: my wife and co-director Alessandra Zecchini hails from the next-door province of Modena.

At the opening ceremony on Monday 26 March

The
world’s premium event for children’s books takes place in the Bologna Fiere,
just outside the historic centre of this city that hosts Europe’s oldest
university and a rich gastronomic tradition. As fairgoers enthuse, it’s
impossible to eat badly in Bologna.

The PANZ stand, with our assistant Giulia Bondioli ready for business

Oratia
joined the Publishers Association of New Zealand stand along with literary
agent Frances Plumpton and five other publishers (Black Chook Books, Gecko
Press, Millwood Press, OneTree House and Upstart Press). We also represented
David Ling’s Publishing superb children’s imprint, Duck Creek Press.

The
stand may have been small, but its location in a busy aisle of the fair’s Hall
25 ensured a prominent showing of New Zealand picture books, junior and young
adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as a special display of works by Joy
Cowley (who was shortlisted for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award).

All present had a steady train of meetings with publishers and agents from many countries, and a good number of walk-ons the stand. Copies of our Bologna brochure, featuring new titles and our children’s backlist, and of the Duck Creek Press catalogue, lasted just till the final afternoon on Thursday 29 March.

Oratia Books and Duck Crek Press titles on the NZ stand

Oratia Book's 12 Huia Birds on display along with other nominees for the BOP Bologna Prize for Best Childrens Publisher of the Year. OneTree House won the Oceania Award for 2018.

Fair
regulars remarked that the fair was busier than in previous years — no surprise
given that the exhibitor total of 1390 was up by 8.6% from the previous year.
That activity speaks to the good times for children’s and young adult books
worldwide, with growing sales and profile despite slowing birth rates in many
Western countries.

Including
visiting publishers, authors and illustrators, over 100 countries were
represented — with China, as this year’s country of honour, putting up an
especially strong showing.

Peter Dowling with Elena Pasoli, Director of the Bologna Children's Book Fair

The
Kiwi presence was well noted, with Fair Director Elena Pasoli telling me it was
“a great source of pride to have New Zealand at the fair.” Creative New Zealand
not only enabled the stand, but also supported a presentation by Taupo-based
illustrator-author Donovan Bixley, and Publishers Association hosting of Sarah
Mullen, director of the UK’s Bournville BookFest for children’s books.

Donovan Bixley with Sarah Mullen of the Bournville BookFest

Links
made at Bologna are set to lead to more international distribution, editions
and opportunities for our fab children’s writers. Alla prossima, allora!